Sheet binding apparatus



Jan. 28, 1958 an. HODGE 2,820,974 a SHEET BINDING APPARATUS? Filed July 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR GERARD 1". H DGE y Qd/QNMIML7M A TTORNEY I Jan. 28, 1958 T, HODGE 2 9820374 SHEET BINDING APPARATUS 'Filed July 14, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s l/VVE/VTO/P GER/9RD T OD im, WvM

A TTORNE) United States 2,820,974 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 SHEET BINDING APPARATUS Gerard T. Hodge, London, England Application July 14, 1955, Serial No. 522,126

8 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) This invention relates to apparatus for binding together sheets, such as sheets of paper, letters, copies and so on.

The word binding as used herein means the joining together of sheets at adjacent edges, called binding edges, so as to form a book-like collection of papers. The invention includes apparatus by which not only may a number of sheets be bound together by their binding edges, but also by which two or more sheets may be joined together or may be added to or inserted in a number of sheets already 50 joined.

It is known that sheets of paper may be bound together by a flexible film, such as may be made by the drying of a colloidal solution of rubber applied to the back of the collection of sheets to be bound, but this kind of binding has not been applied to the filing of sheets of papers and it is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for building up a collection of sheets, such as by adding or inserting sheets, or for binding an existing collection in one operation.

According to the present invention I provide apparatus for binding sheets together comprising a support for supporting sheets piled thereon, aligning means in association with the support for abutting the supported sheets so that their binding edges are aligned, pressureapplying means for pressing the supported and aligned sheets together close to their binding edges, a closable container for flexible-film-forming two-phase liquid, a device mounted within the container for applying solution to the aligned and pressed together binding edges, closure means for automatically closing the container when the apparatus is not in use, and means for replenishing the dispersion phase of the two-phase liquid.

The two-phase liquid concerned in this invention is a flexible-film-forming solution such as a colloidal rubber solution, which may be latex, and is an adhesive. Wherever adhesives are used, whether industrially or in the ofiice or home, it is difficult to prevent adhesive drying and coagulating in its containing vessel or on its ancillaries. In apparatus according to this invention drying or coagulation of the adhesive is substantially eliminated so that it can be kept fresh and ready for use for long periods. Thus if a latex adhesive is used in the apparatus, occasional topping up with an aqueous solution is all that is needed. Not only is the adhesive kept fresh and ready for use, but the device which carries and applies the adhesive is kept substantially free from dried adhesive.

As has been indicated, latex adhesives, which mainly comprise a suspension of rubber particles in an aqueous solution, may be used in the apparatus of the invention. Thus to preserve without deterioration the latex stored in the container of the apparatus it is necessary to compensate for the loss of its volatile constituents, such as water and any dissolved substances. To do this a porous vessel, which is within the container, is in contact with the latex in the container, and contains water, plus the dissolved substances, if any associated with the particular formulation of latex being used. The porosity of the porous material, of which the vessel, such as a cylinder, is made, is such that when the water of the latex evaporates, it is replaced from the cylinder.

The adhesive used may be a simple two-phase liquid consisting say of rubber particles, being the dispersed phase, and water, being the dispersion phase. On the other hand the adhesive may incorporate a solute in the dispersed phase and in fact it may be preferable to introduce a suitable solute into the dispersion phase of.

the adhesive and also in the same concentration into the water in the porous cylinder. The porosity is then arranged such that the cylinder is impermeable to everything except water. The cylinder being substantially air-tight no evaporation occurs from the solution it contains. From the container, evaporation slowly occurs since it has to be continually opened for using the adhesive. The dispersion phase of the adhesive tends to become more concentrated with the solute but the osmotic pressure causes water to pass from the cylinder to the container, to equalize the concentration of solute. When the volume of the cylinder is made large in relation to the volume of that part of the container which is occupied by the adhesive, the water loss from the adhesive is automatically compensated at all times. The water loss from the cylinder may be directly observed and can be made good by addition. The osmotic pressure of suitable solutes being large a small difference of fluid head on either side or the porous wall of the cylinder is of negligible effect.

One form of apparatus according to the invention will now be described as an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a top plan, with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a section on the plane llllll of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the plane IV1V of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the cylinder and its associated parts, partly broken away;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are elevations of the three diilerent segments of the cylinder, Figure 6 being broken away in the middle, and Figures 7 and 8 at the end, for reasons of space; these three elevations are seen in the directions of the arrows A, B and C in Figure 9, which is an end elevation of the cylinder; and finally Figure 10 is a section on the plane XX of Figure 8.

The general arrangement of the apparatus may be seen in Figure 1. The apparatus shown is a machine intended for otfice use, for joining sheets together to form a file of papers, for adding a sheet or sheets to such a file already in existence, or for binding together a large number of sheets.

The machine has a casing 1, with a central depression 1A and shoulder 18, the depression 1A having a sloping surface with a series of parallel ridges 1C on which are placed the sheets to be bound, as may be seen in Figure 3, where the sheets are shown at 2. Smaller continuations ID of the shoulders 1B provide housings for some of the operating mechanism, an operating handle 3 being fixed on a shaft 3A journalled in bearings such as 3B in the housings 1D (Figure l). The handle 3 has an ear 3C at each end and a pair of lugs 3D, projecting downwardly. In Figures 1 to 4 the handle is shown in its rest position. In Figure 3 the dot and dash lines show the position to which the handle may be moved to the right, whilst those in Figure 4 show the position to which it may be moved to the left.

Referring now to Figure 3, the sheets 2 have their binding edges in contact with aligning ribs 4A of a cylinder 4, which is rotatably mounted in pairs of bear ings 4B, 4C (see Figures 2 and 5), within a container 5 having an opening; 5A through which the binding edges are inserted. When the machine is not in use the openihgFA is closed by contact of a curved plate 53 with the upper edge of the opening, the plate 5B being freely, rockably mounted on the-shaft 3A and havingtwo downwardly extending'plate-lilre projections:- SC (see also Eigure 1). The curved plate. 53 not onlyserves normally as" a closure for the container, but also' to press down on the sheets 2 near their binding edges, as shown in Figure 3'. in this position it no longer closes the cone; tainer. n the other side: of the sheets is a lip 6 which co-operates with the cover plate 53 in clamping. the sheets in position as shown, ready for binding.

In the container may be seen the latex adhesive and its level". is 'shownat7l Dipping into the adhesive.

, is the cylinder 4, made of porous. material such as un-- g'lazed' porcelain or other suitable ceramic, treated in well-known manner, such as with coll'odion, to. render it semi-permeable. Inside the cylinder 4 may be seen the'solvenf-8 for replenishing" evaporation from. the latex adhesive in the container 5'." i

The outside surface of the cylinder 4 has four pordons or segments; One of these is plain and of the other three one has the ribs dA'wh'ich' are for aligning the. binding edges, the nextv has means for slightly separating'the' edges preparatory to application of the ad'- hesiv'e, and the last has means for carrying the adhesive above the level 7 andfor applying: it to the binding edges. These segments will he described in more detail later. In the rest position" of" the" machine the cylinder 4is. positioned so that the ribs 4A are ready in the Figure 3 position to align the binding edges'. Thenduri'ng operatien of the machine-the cylinder is partly rotated, bring-- ing the edge separating and the adhesive-applying segments successively into engagement with the binding edges,- to apply the adhesive for binding.

011- withdrawal of the bound sheets excess" adhesive is expelled by the pressurezexerte'd by the edge of the cover plate 53 acting in concert with the lip 6.

The mechanical operation thus described in outline is brought about in the followingrnanner.

In the normal ready for use position of the machine, the parts are disposed asin'Figu-res' l and 4 The plate 53 has its lower edge against the hp 6' and-also it engages a rubber strip 51) fixed at the upper edge SE of opening. 5A. and partly closing that opening. In this way the container with the latex in itvis normally closed to the atmosphere;

To -use: the machine the curved plate 53 must be raised for insertion of the sheets" through theopening 5A. The

plate is raised by moving the'han'dle 3 to: the right as indicated in Fig. 3 by dot and dash lines, so that the lugs 31), pressing against the plate-lil-1e extensions 5C, move the latter'to the left. and the: plate, hinged on. the shaft 3A, to the right. The lower end of each extension. 5C is hinged to a rod 9 at 9Av arrdthe rod: 9 extends through an aperture 19 in the casing 1 to adashpot 11. There are two rods. 9 and dashpots 11 (see. Figure 2). On the end of the rod 9 inside the dashpot is fixed a piston 11A having. a-- washer MB. A compression coil spring. 93 surrounds the rod 9 and bears at one end against a; washer 11C, which closes the dashpot opening 11D, and at the other against an abutment 9C on the rod 9. Thus the spring 93 urges the rod 9 and extension SC to the right in Figure 3 and thus tends alwayslto close the plate 53 or to press it down on the sheets 2. The dashpots tend to oppose this action and cushion it, to prevent harsh, abrupt movement of the plate 53.

With the plate 53 raised, the sheets are put through the opening 5A. until. their binding edges abut the ribs 4A on. the cylinder. The handle is then relaesedand is moved to the left (as viewed in; Figures 3 and 4). The ears. 3C on the handle make contact with the ends of curved racks. 12' mounted on the. shaft 3A,, so that continued movement of the handle to the left moves the racks '12 about the shaft 3A, against tension coil springs 12A connected at 12B to the frame and at 12C to extensions IZD of' the raclis, which extensions can bear against cushioning blocks 13 in the frame to limit clockwise movement of the racks 12 under the action of the springs 12A. The racks move in openings 1E in the frame (see Figure 1). The teeth of the racks mesh with corresponding teethon, pinions 14 connected to the cylinder 4,so that movement of the handle to the left againstther springs causes, the cylinder to be rotated clockwise when viewed as in Figure 4.-

The arrangement of thecylinder 4 may be seen in Figure 5. The. cylinder is. closed. at each. end. by end pieces 15 each having a flange 15A and a plug part 15B, disc-like parts 15C to. prevent travel of adhesive outwardly along the end pieces, and bearing surfaces 1 5D journalled in the pair of bearings 4B. The end pieces 15 are carried on a square-section hollow member 16 extending. from end: to end of. the cylinder assembly 21" At the left-hand end. (in Figure. 5.). the member. 16 is flared.

outwardly at 16A and at the other end it has a. plug 16B with an axial, threaded aperture 16C into which. is screwed a bolt 16D. The. bolt 16D forces a. washer IGEagainst a shoulder 17,, so that tightening of the-bolt 16D clamps all the parts .of the cylinder assembly-firmly on; the square hollow member 16. Outwardly of. the. end pieces 15 the pinions 14" are mounted between washers: 14A, 143 on the square hollow member 16.- Outwardly. again are bearing members 18? havinglocating; flanges 18A and bearing surfaces 18B j'ournalled in the pair. of. bearings. 4C. The right hand'. bearing member 18 is recessed to receive the washer 16B and bolt. 16D. At the.v other end a filler fitting 19, with a screw cap 19A, completes the assembly, being gripped by the flared end IfiA of the square memberv 16. It will be noticed that the member 16'' is pierced with holes 20. To fill the cylind'er 4 with solvent, or to replenish it, the solventis poured into the filler fitting 19, whence it'fiowsthrough the member 16 and out of the holes20.

When the cylinder-4-rotates clockwise the libs 4A are carried upwards and away from the binding'ed'gesand the next segment of the cylinder surface, consisting of edges 21, scrapes: past the edges'andparts'them slightly, ready for application of the adhesive by the next segment, which, before operation of the handle, was immersedin the adhesive inthe bottom of the container'5. Figures'6 to 10 show details: of these segments of the cylinder. In Fig. ure 9, which is an end View, the's egments are generally in dicated by the arrows A, B and C, which also correspond to the direction of view in Figures 6, 7 and 8 respectively.

In Figure 6 the ribs A4, against which the binding edges are aligned, may be seen in relation to the oblique edges 21. In Figure 7' the ribs4 A' and edges 21 are seen in relation. to the third segment which has oblique rows; 22 of alternate project i'ons 22A. and depressions 22B.. These rows holdtherequired amountof adhesive when this segment is lifted; by rotation of the cylinder, from the adhesive in. the bottom of the container 5, and apply'it to the binding edges.

Whenthe' handle has been pushed-to its fullest extentto' the: left application of the adhesive is complete. The handle i-s-rel'eased: and is returned by the spring 12A to the normal'position, the cylinder being also-returned to its normal position; beund'sheets 2 are'th'en pulled out from between; the lip hand the lower edge of the plate 5B, which squeeze the binding edges together to expel excess adhesive andlalso? remove any adhesive which may be ad'- heringto theoutermost sheets.

By referring: toz-Ei'ginfes: 3: and 4: it may be seen that the container Sxhas' upper and lower halves, the lower half forming. part of the frame: while. the upper'half is removable,.for. whichapurpose-finger'lugs 2'3 areprovided.

upper half is:.n.ormally fixed by? sptingpressed plungers- 23A riding in the: frame and engageable' with holes. 23B

and retractible: by finger membersZZvC.

Adhesive is supplied to the machine by the insertion of a self-sealing bottle 24. This has a mouth 24A closed by a ball 24B under the action of a compression spring 24C. Externally the bottle has a screw thread 24D by means of which the bottle may be fixed in a receiver socket 25, the bottle, when screwed home, closing the upper end of the receiver socket. The receiver socket has a pin 25A, which, as shown in Figure 3, engages the ball 24B and pushes it inwardly and to one side so that the contents of the bottle may flow out through the mouth 24A and into a duct 253, which is a continuation of the receiver socket 25 and leads to the container 5. The total capacity of the bottle, receiver socket, duct and container is such that a level, as indicated at 7, is attained when a full bottle is inserted and opened as shown.

The cylinder 4 is made from porous material such as unglazed porcelain treated so as to be semipermeable, such that solvent may pass from the cylinder to the adhesive, but such that the particles of adhesive may not pass through the cylinder. Not only is the adhesive in the bottom of the container 5 kept in good condition, but the exterior surface of the cylinder, including the ribs 4A, edges 21, and the projections and recesses 22A and 223 respectively are kept substantially free of coagulated adhesive. If a machine is used without means for compensating for evaporation from the adhesive, the latter soon dries up and renders the machine ineffective.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for binding sheets together comprising a support for supporting sheets piled thereon, aligning means in association with the support for abutting the supported sheets so that their binding edges are aligned, pressureapplying means for pressing the supported and aligned sheets together close to their binding edges, a closable container for fiexible-film-forming two-phase liquid, a closed cylinder horizontally and rotatably mounted within the container and positioned such that it dips into the twophase liquid in the container and such that a first segment of its exterior may provide the said aligning means, means on another segment being adapted to take up some of the two-phase liquid, carry it on rotation of the cylinder, and then apply it to the aligned binding edges, means communicating with the cylinder interior for supplying dispersion phase liquid thereto, closure means for automatically closing the container when the machine is not in use, and the cylinder including means permitting dispersion phase liquid within the cylinder to disperse into the two-phase liquid in the container, the arrangement being such that the dispersion phase of the two-phase liquid is replenished as required.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 having means for supplying two-phase liquid to the container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pressure applying means comprises part of said closure means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a pivotally mounted handle is movable in one direction to actuate intermediate means to move the closure means to open the container for insertion of the sheets and in the other to move the closure means to apply pressure to the sheets and to rotate the cylinder for applying said two-phase liquid to said binding edges.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first mentioned segment is formed with ribs to provide aligning means, a next segment is formed with means for slightly separating the clamped binding edges, and said another segment is formed with a plurality of projections and depressions for carrying said two-phase liquid and applying it to the binding edges.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying said two-phase liquid is a bottle adapted to be inserted in the machine, said bottle and said machine having co-operating means whereby said bottle is opened automatically on insertion into said machine and is then in communication with said container for supplying the two-phase liquid, the bottle having a mouth normally closed but opened automatically by said co-operating means when the bottle is fully inserted.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mouth is normally closed by a spring-pressed ball within the bottle, a member mounted on the apparatus for displacing the ball when the bottle is fully inserted.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the closing and pressureapplying action of the closure means is cushioned by dash-pot means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

